American Poly: A History

The first history of polyamory explores its roots in political thought and countercultural spiritualism, tracing its path to mainstream practice and cultural discussion today. Recent studies indicate a growing interest in and normalization of relationship practices defined by emotional intimacy and romantic love among multiple people. This book reconstructs polyamory's intellectual foundations, highlighting its unique blend of conservative political thought and countercultural spiritualism. It locates its early foundations in the Roaring Twenties among bohemians, libertarian science fiction writers, and countercultural communities. During the 1980s, polyamory developed as a coherent concept and faced backlash from conservatives. In the 1990s, polyamory utilized the internet to spread its ideas, often undermining any remaining religious or spiritual significance. It now encompasses a diverse set of people, from those with libertarian leanings seeking unlimited freedom from government interference to those who pursue legal recognition of their relationships.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 22 April 2024
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The first history of polyamory explores the roots of sexual non-monogamy in political thought and countercultural spiritualism, tracing its path to mainstream practice and cultural discussion today. Recent studies indicate that as many as one in five Americans have experimented with some form of sexual non-monogamy, and approximately one in fifteen knows someone who is polyamorous. Despite the challenges of gathering statistics on polyamorous people, there has been a growing interest in and normalization of relationship practices defined by emotional intimacy and romantic love among multiple people. The mainstream media has increasingly covered polyamorous lifestyles and the committed relationships of throuples, and popular dating apps have added polyamory as a status option. This book is the first history to trace the evolution of polyamorous thought and practice within the broader context of American culture. Drawing on personal journals and letters, underground newsletters, and publications from the Kinsey Institute Archives, among other sources, it reconstructs polyamory's intellectual foundations, highlighting its unique blend of conservative political thought and countercultural spiritualism. Christopher M. Gleason locates its early foundations in the Roaring Twenties among bohemians. In the 1950s and 1960s, it emerged among libertarian science fiction writers. The next wave of polyamorists belonged to countercultural communities that rejected traditional Christianity; some were neo-Pagans and New Age tantric practitioners who saw polyamory as intrinsic to their spirituality. During the 1980s, polyamory developed as a coherent concept, faced backlash from conservatives, and tried to organize into a social movement.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197659144